Olive grove landscape change: A spatial analysis using multitemporal geospatial datasets

Abstract

This research examines the evolution of olive landscapes in Cartoceto, Italy, post-World War II. This study investigates the structural and functional attributes of two distinct olive cultivation models, mixed olive groves with a low tree density and high-density olive groves. The research employs remote sensing aerial imagery and land use cartography to reconstruct the past terrain and classify distinct categories of olive orchards. Landscape metrics are utilised to evaluate the impact of human and natural factors on the temporal development of olive landscapes across multiple spatial configurations, defined as Landscape-scale and sub-units or Landscape Units. The results indicate that olive landscapes have experienced noteworthy alterations, characterised by a reduction in the conventional large-scale system and an increase in specialised planting models of smaller sizes, classified as “high intensity”. The region surrounding Cartoceto's historic centre has conserved a greater variety of mixed olive heritage and has witnessed the emergence of novel high densities of trees compared to other areas. Obtaining these results has been facilitated solely by utilising diverse spatial configurations of smaller sub-units than the entire landscape. The outcomes of this investigation provide a foundation for forthcoming enquiries into olive terrains and the development of sustainable rural landscape strategies.

Keywords

• Olive groves
• Rural landscape
• LU/LC
• Landscape metrics
• Sankey diagrams